All-electric auto combination lock



A ril 5, 1932.

M. CUTLER ALL ELECTRIC AUTO COMBINATION LOCK Filed Oct. 8, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

April 5, 1932. M CUTLER 1,852,711

ALL ELECTRIC AUTO COMBINATION LOCK Filed Oct. 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR) 797a; (7x72973- ATTORNEY April 5, 1932. CUTLER 1,852,711

ALL ELECTRIC AUTO COMBINATION LOCK Filed Oct. 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Fweryz'zcd CanZQeT care.

INVENTOR, ,77/43? CIJZZeT;

Patented Apr. 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE MAX CUTLER, OF LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA ALL-ELECTRIC AUTO COMBINATION LOCK Application filed October8, 1929.

This invention relates to means for con trolling the starting, theignition and the stopping or killing of internal combustlon motors suchas are employed for the propulsion of various classes of vehicles, suchas automobiles, water-craft and aircraft.

More directly the invention relates to an all electric system havingoperative devices which must be set at predetermined positions accordingto an index system incorporating a numbered index.

It is an object of the invention to provide an all electric controlapparatus incorporating a plurality of control wheels and knobs adjustedto predetermined positions and having calibrated dials for indicatingand facilitating adjustment to positions by the authorized personpossessing the requisite index combination for co-relat-ive Wheels andknobs.

It is an object to provide an electric system including means for thecompletion and for the interruption of several electrical circuitsemployed in the operation and control of an internal combustion motor,such for instance as the ignition circuit and the circuit of an electricstarting motor for the engine.

A further object is to provide an all electric, index and combinationcontrol means of 30 simple, practical and substantial construction andeffective and reliable in operation and whereby the initiated person mayquickly and easily set the control parts to the requisite position forthe several functions.

An additional object is to provide a combined dial and index combinationcontrolled and electrically operative apparatus which may be readilyinstalled and combined with the plant or motored vehicle which is to besupplied with the novel control.

Figure 1 is a plan of the control apparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical section showing parts in elevation and insection.

# Figure 3 is a face view of one of the contact brush plates.

Figure 4 is a face view of another of the contact brush plates.

Figure 5 is a face View of a third or so cardinal brush contact plate,and

Serial No. 398,254.

Figure 6 is a central vertical section of the plate.

Figure 7 is a face elevation of the control index wheels and knobs.

Figure 8 is a diagram of the control system as combined with indicatedignition and starter-motor circuits.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing the closed ignition circuit through itsmagnetic switch.

For a description of the electrical apparatus reference is made to Fig.8 wherein is shown graphically the general electrical system as combinedwith a source of current as from a battery 2 from which a positive line3 leads directly or indirectly to a binding post 4:. From this bindingpost leads a wire 5 to a plane faced switch bed or a plate 6 ofinsulative material having a contact pin 7 whose head is flush with theface of the plate 6 and to which pin the wire 5 is connected.

Bearing against and sweeping over the face of the plate 6 is a brush orarm 8 whose outer tip is arranged to swing onto the contact pin 7 as thearm is turned by its rotative shaft 9, by means later described.

From the switch arm 8 leads a wire 10 to a flush-head contact 11 in asecond or intermediate contact insulative bed or plate 12 and on whichturnably sweeps switch arm 13 operative by its shaft 14; the tip of thearm being engageable during its rotation with the flush-head of thecontact 11.

From the intermediate switch arm 13 eX- tends a wire 15 electricallyconnected to a flush-head contact 16 in the ultimate or cardinalinsulative bed or plate 17 which has a switch arm 18 turnable by a shaft19 to sweep in an orbit so that the tip of the switch arm 18 can bebrought to position over but not against the contact 16 until, by a pullon knob 52, it is drawn in against and completes a circuit on thecontact 16.

The switch arm 18 is electrically connected by a wire 20 to the core ofcoil 24 which acts as a conductor in series with an armature 25 and isconnected to a binding post 21 to which is electrically connected anignition circuit 22 including the usual spark coil and spark plugelements which are shown conventionally. An object of the wire 20 is toenergize coil 24 to draw over armature 25 MM. the ignition circuitthrough core of co l wire 23' and binding post 21.

From this it will be seen that there is provided a plurality of circuitcontrolling or master switches each turnable, independent of the otherto engage relative contacts so that when all of the switches have beencor- 'rectly engagedwith the contacts the ignition circuit is completedthrough a line 27, armature 25, core of coil 24, wire 23, and bindingpost 21 to the ignition circuit 22.

The circuit line is connected by a branch 23 to an electro-magnet 24whose armature 25 is normally open from the conducting core under actionof a spring 26. The armature 25 is connected by the line 27 to the busbinding post 4. The electroanagnet 24 is connected by a line 28 to anarmature 29 (waich is normally grounded as later described) and normallyheld out by its spring 30 (insulated as to armature 29) from anelectro-magnet 31 which has a line 32 leading to a flush-head contact 33fixed in the cardinal contact Plate 17 and in the orbit of the tip ofthe switch 18. The electro-magnet 31 has a grounded line 32' here shownas connected to a bracket 33 to which the spring 30 of the armature 29is connected; the bracket having anadjusting and contact screw 34engaged by the open armature 29 so that in open position the circuit ofthe electro-magnet- 24 is through the line 28, armature 29, screw 34 andto the grounded bracket 33. i

It will be seen that when several master switches, 8. 13 and 18 havebeen properly adjusted and the latter'mored, by knob 52, in momentarilyto engage its contact 16 and to close the line 20, the circuit of coil24 closed, the coil 24 is energized and its pole attracts armature 25whereby current passes through the core of the magnet 24 to a. line 23and thence to the ignition circuit 22. It will be seen that the ignitioncircuit 22 will remain closed by armature 25 so long as magnet 24remains energized, though the switch 18 breaks contact on 16, becausecoil 24 is now energized by a circuit including wire 3, post 4, wire 27closed armature 25, core of coil 94 wire 23 and shunt circuit wire 23through 2829-30: 33 to ground. Thus, when the switches 8, 13 and 18 areclosed, wire 5 feeds tl161001l 24 to close ignition circuit 22 through istart the motor, turns it to a position over,

but not engaging, a contact head 35 flush with the plate 17 and in theorbit of the out-ofcontact tip of the switch 18; the contact beingconnected by a wire 36 to a binding post 37 to which is electricallyconnected a suitable starter-switch 38 controlling a starter-motor 39 bywhich the engine, not shown, is turned over. Now by pulling in theswitch 18 current is fed through wire 36, post 37, starter switch 38 tothe starter motor 39. The switch 18 is always a positive potential aslong as the armature 25 is feeding the ignition current, since it isconnected to armature 25 by wire 20, line 23, to core of coil 24, toarmature 25 and line 27 to battery.

For the purpose of stopping the engine the switch 18 is turned to therequisite position ready to engage the contact 33 whereby the magnet 31is energized and draws over the armature 29 and breaks the groundcircuit of coil 24 at the contact screw 34 thus deenergizing theignition control magnet 24 and releasing the armature 25 so that theignition circuit is thus broken between armature 25 and core of coil 24,the armature 25 being pulled open by spring 26.

For the purpose of rendering difficult the selection of the positions ofthe controlling switches 8, 13 and 18 at the proper places concurrentlythe switches are conceal .(l in a shell or box 40 and their shaftsextended forwardly to and through a front panel 41 adapted to be mountedin a convenient position in front of an instrument board 42 to which theswitch box 40 may be appropriately fastened as by bolts or screw 43.

In the present embodiment the switch arm 8 has its shaft 9 extendedforwardly through the panel 41 and provided with a knob 44 which has acalibrated flange 45 whose calibration registers with a pointer or mark46, Fig. 7, on the panel. Anyone knowing the index number on the flange45 for bringing the switch 8 to correct position on contact 7 willmerely turn the knob 44 to bring the dial number opposite the mark 46.

The switch 13 is secured on a tubular shaft 14 on whose outer end issecured a wheel 47 having an index flange 48 whose numbers are to beregistered with a guide or mark 49 on the panel 41 to bring the arm 13to the correct position on the contact 11 on the plate 12 which is fixedto the wall of the box 40.

The shaft 19 of the switch arm 18 passes through the tubular shaft 14and is insulated therefrom by a tube or hearing 49. The contact plate17, of the arm 18, is spaced. inwardly from the contact plate 12 and aspring 50 interposed between the plates serves to press the switch arm13 firmly against its plate 12, and so hold the index wheel 47frictionally in place.

The switch arm 18 is normally placed out of contact with its plate 17 bya spring 51. The outer end of the switch shaft 19 is provided with aknob 52 to which is secured a pointer 53 which is registerable withsuitable index numbers as the dial 48.

In the operation of the device, a person knowing the correct indexcombination numbers, simply turns the knob 44 to registerthe effectiveindex number of flange 45 with the mark 46 at which setting the switch 8will be moved onto the contact 7. The index wheel 47 is then turned toregister the proper index number with the mark 49 to bring the switcharm 13 into register with contact 11. For energizing coil 24 to drawover armature 25 and thereby closing the. ignition circuit the knob 52is turned to bring the switch arm 18 over its contact 16. hen theseveral switches have been properly registered according to the code ofnumbers then the knob 52 ispulled outwardly so as to draw the switch 18against the contact 16 by overcoming spring 51 and as soon as theelectrical contact is made the ignition is closed by engagement ofarmature 25 on core of coil 24 even though the knob 52 is released.Since the armature 25 has been attracted to the magnet 24 (whose circuitis shunted through 23-+2833) and closes ignition circuit through theline 23 the next step is to turn the knob 52 to bring the switch arm 18over the contact 35 and then pull the knob 52 forward to bring theswitch against the contact 35 and thus close the starter switch device38.

To finally stop or kill the engine, the knob 52 is turned to registerwith the contact 33, Fig. 8, and is then pulled to engage the arm 18with the contact 33, whereupon the electrical magnet 31 is energized andits armature 29 breaks the ground circuit of switch coil 24 at contactscrew 34 thus de-energizing magnet 24 and releasing its armature 25 andbreaking the ignition circuit through line 23 Since the several contacts7, 11, 16, 35 and 33 are all flush with the surfaces of the insulativeplates 6, 12, 17 the tips of the brushes on switch arms will glide overthe surfaces without feel efiiect through the knobs so that a' personnot knowing the combination numbers cannot position the switches by thesense of touch.

The electro-mechanical, secret-index combination device is shown ascombined with a manual brake lock, Fig. 1', including an electro-magnethaving a line 61 to the ignition post 21 and being grounded at 62. Thismagnet attracts an armature 63 pivoted at 64 and having ahook latch 65pulled down by a spring 66 into the path of action of a locking lug 67fixed a'djustably on the end of a brake rod 68 operative by a lever 69.

When the brake is set by the rod the lug 67 passes under the latch 65and cannot be released to free the brakes until the magnet 60 isenergized to pull over the armature 63 and thus lift the latch.Preferably the magnet 60 is energized concurrently with the ignitioncircuit and holds'the lock open until the ignition is killed. The brakecan be set or released at will while the ignition is on.

The dial panel is provided with a start symbol ST and a kill symbol K.As soon as the driver has set all the combination dials and knobs toeffect starting of the engine and has started the engine then the drivermay immediately jumble the index devices to prevent the combinationbeinglearned by any one else. If the engine is stalled for any reasonthe driver may turn the control knob 52 to the symbol ST and immediatelystart the engine without resetting the combination devices; the symbolbeing so positioned that the switch will be brought to the rightposition on the starting circuit contact. The kill symbol K is sopositioned that the control switch can instantly be turned to theignition circuit breaking contact as will be desired when vehicle isdriven to the curb without setting of the control combination elements.

It will be seen that when the ignition circuit is broken through use ofthe symbol K position that it will be necessary to again set the propercombination of dials and knobs before the ignition circuit can be closedand the engine started.

Fig. 9 shows how the armature arm 25 is held closed against tension ofits spring 26 by its energized magnet-core 24 whose coil is ex cited bycurrent from 2, 3, 4, 27 23, 23, to- 28 to ground 2933.

The master switch 18 is yieldable against its spring 51 which keeps itout of contact with 16 at all times unless pulled to contact by knob 52.The ignition current runs on the closed magnetic switch 25.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. An engine ignition combination-switch control including, incombination with ignition apparatus, a plurality of contact plateshaving contacts, rotative switch arms with tips sweepable over theplates to engage respective contacts, a control, ignition circuit systemin which said contacts and arms are connected in series, manuallyoperative setting elements to place the arms in circuit closingpositions, and index devices coordinate to the said elements; wherebythe latter can be readily adjusted to close the switches according tothe known index relation; and a parallel, supplemental ignition circuitwhich is. controlled by the said switch arms and is automatically closedthrough their coaction.

2. An engine ignition combination-switch control including, incombination with ignition apparatus, a plurality of contact plateshaving contacts, rotative switch arms with tips sweepabl-e over theplates to engage respective contacts, a control, ignition system inwhich said contacts and arms are connected is series, manually operativesetting elements to place the arms in circuit closing positions, andindex devices coordinate to the said elements; whereby the latter can bereadily adjustd to close the switches according to the known indexrelation; and a parallel, supplemental ignition circuit which iscontrolled by the said switch arms and is automatically closed throughtheir coactionand which remains effective after any of said arms isshifted to open position. v

3. An engine ignition combination-switch control including, incombination with ignition apparatus, a plurality of contact plateshaving contacts, rotative switch arms with tips sweepable over theplates toengage respective contacts, a control, ignition circuit systemin which said contacts and arms are connected in series, manuallyoperative setting elements to place the arms in circuit closingpositions, and index devices coordinote to the said elements; wherebythe latter can be readily adjusted to close the switches according tothe known index relation; and a parallel, supplemental ignition circuitwhich is controlled by the said switch arms and is automatically closedthrough their coaction and which remains effective after any of saidarms is shifted to open position and means for breaking the supplementalcircuit of the i ition control.

4. An engine ignition combination-switch control. including, incombination with ignition apparatus, a plurality of contact plateshavingicontacts, rotative switch arms with tips sweepable over theplates to engage respective contacts, a control, ignition circuit systemin which said contacts and arms are connected in series, manuallyoperative setting elements to place the arms in circuit closingpositions, and index devices coordimate to the said elements, wherebythe latter can be readily adjusted to close the switches according tothe known index relation; and a parallel, supplemental ignition circuitwhich is controlled by the said switch arms and is automatically closedthrough their coaction and which remains effective after any of saidarms is shifted to open position and means for breaking the supplementalcircuit of the ignition control and which is controlled by one of saidswitch arms.

5. An engine ignition combination-switch control including, incombination with ignition apparatus, a control circuit includingcombination switches in series, an ignition circuit including a magneticswitch which is closed by the control circuit and remains effectiveafter the same is opened, and means controlled by one of the combinationswitches to release the magnetic switch to break the ignition circuit. i

6. .An engine ignition combination-switch control including, incombination with ignition apparatus, a control circuit including manualswitches in series, an ignition circuit including a magnetic switcharmature which is closed by the control circuit and remains effectiveafter the same is opened, and means controlled by one of the-combinationswitches to release the magnetic switch to break the circuit ofitsmagnet and thereby open the ignition circuit said means including anelec tromagnet whose armature forms a part of the magnetic switchcircuit.

7 An engine ignition combination-switch control including, incombination with i ition apparatus, a control circuit inclu ing manualcombination switches in series, an ignition circuit includin a magneticswitch armature which is close by the control circuit and remainseffective after the same is opened, and means controlled by one of thecombination switches to release the magnetic switch tobreak the circuitof its magnet and thereb open the ignition circuit; said means inclu ingan electro-magnet whose armature forms a part of the magnetic switchcircuit and whose circuit is closeable by the last mentioned combinationswitch in one position.

8. An engine ignition and starter control including connections to anignition circuit and connections to a starter circuit, a eombination,index-set group of switches, serially connected contacts for theswitches, an ignition circuit closer connected to one of the contacts,and a starter circuit contact engageable by one of the switches after ithas moved from its ignition line contact.

9. An engine ignition and starter control including connections to anignition circuit and connections to a starter" circuit, a combination,index-set group of switches, serially connected contacts for theswitches, an ignition circuit closer connected to one of the contacts,and a starter circuit contact engageable' by one of the switches afterit has moved from its ignition line contact and an ignition circuitbreaker including a contact engageable by one of the switches.

10. A bank of combination switch devices in: series including a switcharm and a: switch plate havin a plurality of contacts engageable by sariarm, an ignition circuit including a magnetic switch whose circuit isconnected to one of said contacts, and an electromagnetic circuitbreaker, whose armature is in series with the coil of the magneticswitch and the coil of which circuit breaker is connccted toone of saidcontacts,

II. A bank of combination switch devices in series including a switcharm and a switch plate having a plurality of contacts engageable by saidarm, an ignition circuit including a magnetic switch whose circuit isconnected to onset said contacts, and an electromagnetic" circuitbreaker, whose armature is in series with the coil of the magneticswitch and the coil of which circuit breaker is connected to one of saidcontacts; said arm turnably sweeping out of contactive plane as to thecontacts, and means for moving the arm to such plane to effectcontaction.

12'. A dial-combination, circuit closer including a line switch and anindex device for setting the same to a given contact in the switch line,a circuit terminal element, and

an electro-lnagnet whose circuit is closeable by said switch and anarmature, for the magnet, which electrically connects to said elementwhereby to close a circuit leading therefrom.

13- A bank of switches in series in a circuit, index devices for settingthe switches in a given combination order to close the circuit, asupplementary circuit controlled by the first circuit and including anengine starting means, and an index symbol to indicate closing positionfor the first circuit without use of the combination devices.

14. A bank of combination-set manual switches and their circuitcont-acts, an ignition circuit including one of said switches and itscontact, and means to hold the ignition circuit closed after theinitially set manual switches have been disarranged from the propersetting of the combination.

15. A manually operated, self-opening switch, and an ignition circuitmomentarily closed thereby, a parallel circuit controlled by the switchand adapted to keep the ignition circuit closed after the said switchopens itself, and means to break the parallel circuit to interrupt theignition circuit.

MAX CUTLER.

